Fluid loader



Feb. i2, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Aug. 24, 1953 INVENTOR ATTORNEYSFeb. l2, 1957 w. F. scHAE'rzLY FLUID LOADER 3 Shaaets-SheLaI 2 FiledAug. 24, 1953 'fili/gir IIII INVENTOR imi ATTORNEYS Feb. 12, 1957 w. F.scHAl-:TZLY 2,781,052

' FLUID LOADER Filed Aug. 24, 1953 s sheets-sheds Z' Sa/willy ATTORNEYSBYWMM United rates Patent FLUHD LADER Wiliam F. Schaetzly, Louisville,Ky.

Application August 24, 1953, Serial No. 376,013

12 Claims. (Cl. 137-276) This invention relates to iiuid loaders, andmore particularly to loaders equipped with counterbalances for balancingthe tilling pipe at all angles of adjustment.

j Loaders of the general type to which the invention relates have beenin use for some time, land have been used extensively' in loa-:lingpetroleum products. Such loaders usually consist of a standpipe having aswing joint at its top to which is attached a horizontal pipe having adepending ller pipe at its outer end. Many loaders are equipped withweight counterbalances to balance the horizontal and iiiler pipes invarious positions of adjustment. The weight type counterbalances havenot been Vsuthciently delicate in their operationto properly balance thedevice in all positions of adjustment, and usually they are designed tohold the device in substantially vertical inoperative position. Thisresulted in the operator having to hold the horizontal pipe in itsoverhanging delivery position.

The object of the present invention is` to provide a loader of thisVgeneral type in which the weight of the delivery end of the device iscompensated for in all positions of adjustment.

Aiurther object or the invention is to provide compensating mechanismassociated with the swing joint to form a unit, wherein the mounting ofthe compensating mechanism will permit free and normal movement of theswing joint about its several axes.

Another object is the provision of compensating mechanism'which isadjustable for variations in weight load.'

Other objects of the invention will become apparent romth'e followingdescription of practical embodiments thereof, when taken in conjunctionwiththe drawings which accompany, and form a part of, thisspecification.

in the drawings: v

Figure l is a perspective View of the upper portion of a loaderembodying the principles of the present inven-A tion;

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary side view of the swing joint andcompensating unit and associated parts;

Figure 3 is a furtherenlarged vertical section, through that portion ofthe device shown in FigurerZ, and is taken on the line 3 3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a horizontal section taken on the line 4 4 of Figure 3 onthe horizontal axis of the swing jointj Figure 5 is a horizontal sectiontaken on the lines-S ot' Figure 3; i

Figure 6 is a vertical section at right angles Yto Figure 3, and isVtaken on the line 6-6 of Figure 3;,a'nd,

Figure 7 is a sectional View through one buer Tot the compensatingmechanism showing a modified forni.

Figure 8 is a vertical sectional View lthrough' a modiform of joint andcompensating unit and as-A upper end, and 'a delivery pipe-'securedtothe swing joint,

straight section 7, the S-shaped casting 8, and the S- shaped casting 9.

The straight section 7 forms a vertical pivot to permit the deliverypipe to be moved in a horizontal plane. vlt is provided with a bushing10 at its lower end, threaded externally as at 11, for attachment to theupper end c-t the standpipe 1. Above the threads l, the bushing isperipherally grooved to form a ball bearing race 12. A tubular casting13 having its lower end reduced to form a shoulder A ts within thebushing with the shoulder' 14 resting upon the ball bearings 15 in theraceway 1?.. This forms a thrust bearing to take the weight of thesuperimposed structure and permit the casting 13 to rotate freely withrespect to the bushing it). Bushing 19 has an opstanding collar 16 whichis spaced from, and surrounds, the lower portion of casting i3 to form astutng box. The usual packing 17, follower 18 and gland nut i9 areprovided to provide a seal to prevent leakage. The bushing is exteriorlythreaded to receiv the threaded lower end of a cageZ. The upper end ofthe cage is threaded to receive a bearing retainer 2l which seats uponball bearings 22 in a raceway 23 formed upon an annular ange 24projecting from the casting 13. By means of this structure, two spacedbearings are provided for the casting to ensure it being held firmly inposition and yet permit easy rotation.

The upper end of casting 3.3 is threaded into the lower end of S-shapedcasting S. The two members are drawn into tight engagement so that theyfunction as a single unit. Thus, when casting S is turned in ahorizontal plane, the straight, vertical section 7 will be caused torotate in its bearings. Due to the S shape of casting 8, the axis of itsupper end lies in a horizontal plane. A bushing 25 is threaded into theupper end ot' casting S and forms a journal inewhich a thimble 26threaded into, and projecting from, the end ofv S-shaped casting 9 isseated for'rotativemovement. Bushing 25 has a projecting annular collarsurrounding, and spaced from, the thimble 26 to forma stufling box.Packing 27, follower 2S and gland nut 29 are used to provide aliquid-tight seai between the Abushing and thimble. Dae to the shape ofcasting 9, the outer end of the casting will have its axis in the planeof the axis of vertical casting 7 in all positions of adjustmentofcasting 9. Delivery pipe 3 has its end threaded into the outer end ofcasting 9.

From the above description it will be obvious that the delivery pipe maybe moved in a horizontal arc by the rotation of the vertical casting 7in its bearings, and in a vertical direction by reason of' the swivelconnection between the castings 8 andV 9. This provides universalmovement for the delivery pipe.

By special construction, the weight loadis removed from the swivel jointbetween castings 8 and 9, and means are provided adapted tobe mounteddirectlyupon the swing joint assembly mechanism for counterbalancing theweight of the delivery pipe and to compensate for the varying weightloadupon progressively increasing or decreasing the overhang of thedelivery pipe in use. For this purpose,V the castings 8 and 9 haveoutwardly projecting bosses which serve as trunnions and are journalledin bearings supported Afrom thecastings. In other words, a bossprojecting from one casting is journalled in `a piston 4G and acompression spring 41. Y. head 42 closes the bottom of the cylinder, anda head'43 closes the top. V'The spring 41 has its ends bearing against aAbearing supportedV by theother casting. Casting 8 l has a boss 39projecting from Vits side Y'withits axis Ycoincident with the axisofgthe horizontal swivel joint between the castingsV 8 and 9. The end ofthe boss Vis of reduced'diameter and fits within an anti-frictionbearing V3,1 'which is "threaded into a circular open ing inthe end of abracket 32 projecting from the castillg ,9. Casting 9 has a similarlboss 33! whose axis" isscoincident Ywith that of the'swivel joint,working in the bearing 34 threaded in an opening in a bracket 35extending from casting S. The load of the delivery pipe, therefore, istransferred from the casting 9 through i. bracket 32 and the boss 30 tocasting S, and through boss 33 and bracket 35 to casting S, thusrelieving the swivel connection between the castings.Y

piston 49 and head 43, Upward movement of the piston serves to compressthe spring. The piston has the usual rod ai which passes through 'anopening in the head 43 andV has its outer end connected Vto one end ofchain 38.

A bellows -S surrounds'the opening in head 43 and the piston rod toprevent leakage of. the hydraulic fluid 'within' Y the' cylinder. Thebellowsis'suliciently ilexible toV allow some sidewise movement' tocompensate for Vside draft upon the piston rod'caused by the bell-crank37 following an arcuate pathof movement. Piston 40 is provided withports 46 to permit ilow of uid past the pistonas the piston movesupwardly within the cylinder. A ap valve t7 closes the ports as thepiston moves downwardly.

4. V toV receive a pin 60 which also passes through openings Y61 in the-bifurcated arins'Si.V Openings 61 are arranged Vin two rows 62 and 63which diverge radially from the pivotal points of the bell-cranks. Byplacing the pin 60 in selected ones of the openings 61 different degreesof tension may be obtained in the buers. After the pin 60 is positioned,line adjustment. may oe made by means "of the screw 58.

lri Figure 7 a buffer having a mechanical, rather Vthan a hydraulicmechanism is shown. This differs from the butter previously describedonly in the substitution of a solid piston head 64 for the hydraulichead 46. A similar spring'41is`used within the cylinder 39. Air withinthe Y cylinderserves'to retard, or slow Vup, piston action insubstantially horizontal position. It will be obvious that thiscausesthe casting 9 Vto pivot about its connection with casting 8, rocking thebell-cranks to raise therarms 574. VThis, raises the pistonsY in thebutler cylinders and compresses springs 41. The increasing compressionof the springs will compensate for the progressively increasing' Y voverhang of the delivery pipe. lf thercompression of the springs was ata uniform rate, the torque of the loader would increase to the pointthat it would be difficult to pullY the delivery pipe to horizontalposition. It will be notedyhowever, that bell-crank arms 54 move on anarc and the increased spring compression will not be at a. uniform rate.This will venable the delivery pipe Yto be pulled down into horizontalposition with little eort,

ye't the springs are suiliciently compressed to lift kthe de# liverypipe to vertical.inoperativeposition when the pres- J sure'upon the pipeis released. It will also be'noted'that Y all parts of the compensatingmechanism are carried by the units of the swing joint, so that no strainis placed Head 43 is formedV integrally with a bracket 48 which YV'pr'ojec'ts outwardly from the lower portion of casting 8.

There is a bracket for each butler 36, arranged toV hold the bufferssymmetrically positioned on either side of the swing joint. The lowerends of the buffers are joined byY means of a tie bar 49.

Y The bell-cranks 37 are connected to the casting 9 to. move with it.Each bell-crank is fastened tothe casting by two cap screws 50 and 51.The screws pass through one arm 52 of the bell-cranks so that the axisof rotation of the bell-cranks will be the same as that of the casting9. The cap screws 50 .and 51 attaching the bell-crank 37 Y shown at theleft in Figure 3'are threaded in the bracket 32 projecting from casting9, and cap screws 50 and 51 attaching bell-crank V37 atVV the right VofVFigureV 3 are Ythreaded respectively into a boss 53 formed on casting,

upon the standpipe or delivery pipe. The swing jointand compensatingmechanism become a unitary assembly, with ,the bell-'cranks serving tohold the swing joint inV assembledposition. Y Y Y '.In Figures 8 and 9there is shown a modified form of swing joint andcompensating'mechanism. In most respects; thelstructure is the same asthat previously der scribed, and the changes are made primarily Ytoprovide a structure which is more practical with heavier loads andlongerdelivery pipes, and particularly with telescoping Vdelivery"'pij'pes.The Vmodiied structure permits'the usel of longer crank arms on thecompensatingm'echanism Vto balance heavier loads.V The'changesprincipally yconcern the lower straight'section of the swing yjointandthemounting of the' buffer cylinders.V

' The upper Sfshaped section 65 has its horizontal terminalV portionVswivelly connected to'- the horizontal ter- Y Y, minal'portionof the'intermediate S-shaped section 66VV ing endwise movement of the bossesintheir respective j earings'and securing Ythe castings 8 and 9 inassembled The second arm 54 of Yeach yof thebell-cranks is conrelation.Y

nected to one of the chains 38 to YcoupleV each bell-crank Y toitsrespective bufferso that rotative movement of cast? asfbefore, Theflowervertical section 67andY cage 6,8 are reversed. YTher lower verticalsectionV isexternally threaded atpitsV lower end to screw into the topofthe standpipe; and has an annular flange 69 between its ends toi seat fabearing race 70. An internal anger71 onn cage 68 bears against theopposite side of bearing race 70'and. al second bearing race Y72 ispositioned againstV Ythe opposite sidehof Vflange 71. Ajamb nut 73,threads balais/:ek the delivery pipe ini .itsn changed position. AwrmsY 54 archifurcat'ed'soY that the chain couplingmeansrnay be i receivedbetween the two armpositions. 'l The 'chainshaveY draw'buckles' att'heir'upper ends, eachrhaving an ad- 'justablei pivot .block slidfablyVVniounted. within"Y itr'and "held-1 u i i" 72 to lock-the bearingassembly, in place.` The; upper end ofthecage isV internallythreadedtorec'eive apunion 74 jwhich'is -threadeditor receive theVnipple 75 screwed. .i into the vertical'Y terminal portion ofk theVinterrnedlate j Y' Sg-s'hapedrse'ction 6,6. VUnion 74 has adownward'exten'- sion 76 terminating'closely adjacent thetop.cif'the-lower..Y vertical section 67andl is.V of ,the samediameterVas theV Y lower section. The.Y outerv walls; of the downward exten? 7.sioni andthe top. otthelowe'r section are.V peripherally Y grooved toreceive sealing rings 77. A seal ring 78 bridges the space between thedownward extension and the lower vertical section and covers the sealingrings to make a duid-tight connection between the two elements.

In this form of the invention the buffer cylinders 79 are provided withthe top and bottom cylinder heads, as in the previous form, and theseheads are held upon the cylinder ends by means of tie rods. In thisform, however, a bracket 80 having a central opening is slipped over thecylinder to a position midway between its ends and short tie rods 81 areprovided which pass through openings in the top and bottom cylinderheads and are threaded into the bracket 80. Horizontal extensions 32 onthe brackets 80 are bored to receive the ends of a shaft S3 which isjournalled in a boss 84 formed on the rear of the cage 68. The ends ofthe shaft are peripherally grooved, as at 85, and set screws 86 threadedin the brackets Si) seat in the grooves to lock the cylinders intoposition upon the cage. rlhis mounting will permit the cylinders to rockslightly as the bell-cranks 87 through the chain connection 88 draw upthe pistons in the cylinders. This will provide a straight line pull atall times and gradually reduce the friction upon the piston rod.

The bell-cranks 67 are provided with set screws 89 which may be adjustedto contact chains 88 when the delivery pipe is pulled down and the upperS-shaped section of the swing joint rocked about its pivot. Usually thescrews will be so adjusted that they will contact the chains and pushthem outward, thus eectively shorteningtheir lengths to further compressthe springs in the buiers just as the delivery pipe reaches horizontalposition. This will compensate for the extra load imposed when thetelescopic sections of the delivery pipe are extended.

While in the above practical embodiments of the invention have beendisclosed, it will be evident that the structure described andillustrated is merely by way of example, and changes may be made fromthe precise details disclosed without departing from the scope of theappended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A load compensating swing joint for uid loaders comprising, a lowervertical section, an S-shaped intermediate section having one verticaland one horizontal terminal portion with the vertical terminal portionswivelly connected to the top of the lower vertical section whereby saidintermediate section may rotate with respect to the lower section abouta vertical axis, an S- shaped upper section having one horizontal andone vertical terminal portion with the horizontal terminal portionswivelly connected to the horizontal terminal portion of theintermediate section whereby said upper section may rotate with respectto the intermediate section about a horizontal axis, a pair of buerelements one mounted vertically on each side of said intermediatesection with the vertical plane of the buffers being substantiallyparallel to `a vertical plane passing through the horizontal axis ofrotation between said upper and intermediate joint sections, a pair ofactuating arms carried by said upper section with one on each side ofsaid upper section and extending perpendicularly to the horizontal xisof rotation of said upper section, and flexible means connecting thefree ends of said arms and said buffers.

2. In a load compensating swing joint for fluid loaders as claimed inclaim 1, means for adjusting the lengths of said connecting means tovary the strength of said buffers.

3. In a load compensating swing joint for uid loaders as claimed inclaim 1, each of said buiers comprising a cylinder, top and bottomcylinder heads. a piston in the cylinder, a piston rod connected to thepiston and projecting through the top cylinder head for attachment to 6said connecting means, and a coiled spring positioned between saidpiston and the top cylinder head.

4. In a load compensating swing joint for uid loaders as claimed inclaim 2, means to adjust the length of said connecting means to vary theinitial compression of said springs, and said arms having a plurality ofopenings spaced along their lengths to provide attachment for saidconnecting means whereby the eiiective length of said arms may bevaried.

5. A load compensating swing joint for uid loaders comprising, a ylowerstraight vertical section, `an S-shaped intermediate section having onevertical `and one horizontal terminal portion with the vertical terminalportion swivelly connected upon the upper end of the lower sectionwhereby said intermediate section may rotate relative to ythe lowersection about -a vertical axis, an S- shaped upper section having onehorizontal 'and one ver tical -terminal portion with the horizontalportion swivelly connected Ito the horizontal terminal portion of theintermediate section whereby said upper section may rotate relative tothe intermediate section about a horizontal axis, a trunnion On each ofsaid intermediate `and upper sections projecting outwardly in oppositedirections coaxially with the axis of rotation between said upper andintermediate sections, a bracket projecting from each ot' said upper andintermediate sections in which the trunnions of the other of said upperand intermediate sections is journalled, bell cranks hav-ing one yarmconnected to said upper section and extending across the axis ofrotation between said upper `and intermediate sections and over the endsof said trunnions to prevent endwise movement of said trunnions in saidbracket-s, said bell cranks each having another arm projectingperpendicularly t-o the axis of rotation between said upper `andintermediate sections, a pair of buer elements one mounted vertically oneach side of said intermediate ysection with the vertical'plane :of thebuffers being substantially paralklel to a vertical plane passingthrough the horizontal axis of rotation between the upper andintermediate sections, and flexible means connecting the free arms ofsaid bell cranks and said buiers.

6. In a load ycompensating swing joint for uid loaders as claimed inclaim 5, means for adjusting the lengths of said connecting means tovary the strength of said buffers.

7. In a load compensating swing joint for fluid loaders as claimed inclaim 5, each of -said buters comprising a cylinder, top and bottomcylinder heads, a piston in the cylinder, a piston rod connected to thepiston and projecting through the top cylinder head for attachment tosaid connecting means, and a `coiled spring position between saidpi-ston and the top cylinder head.

8. In a load compensating swing joint for uid loaders as claimed inclaim 7, means to -adjust the lengths of said connecting means to varythe initial compression of said springs, and said free arms of said bellcranks being bifurcated to receive said connecting portions between theresulting pairs of arms, said pairs of arms having a plurality ofopenings spaced along their lengths whereby attachment to saidconnecting mean-s to vary the etective lengths of said free arms.

9. In a load compensating swing joint for uid load ers as claimed inclaim 8, the means for adjusting the lengths of the connecting meanscomprising a drawbuckle connected to said connecting means, -a blockmovable in said drawbuckle and attachable to the free arms of said bellcranks, and means to move said block.

l0. A load compensating swing joint for uid loaders comprising, a lowervertical section, an S-shaped intermediate section having one verticaland yone horizontal terminal portion, a downwardly extending cagecarried by the vertical terminal portion of the intermediate sectionsurrounding and swivelly mounted upon the lower vertical section wherebysaid intermediate section and cage may rotate with respect to the lowersection about 7 at vertical 1, axis; an i SL-shape upper; section;heyingvv one; horizontal4 and. one: vertical terminaliportiont with;the.l horizontal terminal'- portion swivellyfY connected; to thehorzentalY terminalportionv ofi: the intermediate;Setion,V whereby, saidupper: sectionY may,V rotate; with, respect` to.C the lintermediatesection Iabout;a ,horizonta1;axis, .aLpairv of bufferY elementsA one.pivotaliy,Y mounted on.r each, side` of' the cage, at pair of actuatingarms carried; by said` upper section one on each side thereof and;extending.r

perpendiculai'ly` to the, horizontalY axis of: rotation of said uppersection, and exibleA means: connecting the. free e ends-of said'arms andsaid;but`fers.

11. In a load'compensatinggswing joint foi: uidioaders asclaimed-inclaim 10,- eachof; saidbufferscomprising Va cylinder, top andf bottom;cylinder; heads, apistonpin tween; saidmston and Said; top-1@winden-head1 and.v tbs piyotal; connection of;A said; bii. ,S1 being;apprmatel References Citedtinthell@ 0i this peteat UNIIEDSVTATESPATENTSl 958,504 KnightY Mayw 17, 1910 2,250,227 Kiel Iuly 22, 1,941 t2,361,214 Krone` et a1.' Oct. 24, 1944V 2,409,251 Cantley et al Oct. 15,1946 2,492,049 Krone et al. Dec. 20,1949 2,509,120Y Warren` r V May 23,1950

